floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK Agree with you 100%.

My own-root Teasing Georgia died this past zone 5a winter, despite my checking for fast drainage by dumping a bucket of water to see how fast it drains. There are many decade-old trees that died this past winter due to tons of freezing rain in April (at 20 F) and poor drainage clay.

What I should had done with Teasing Georgia is to dig the hole WIDER, which was impossible since it's on a steep hill. As a climber, Teasing Georgia needs fast drainage.

Peat moss is very acidic at pH 4 and can retain water 10 times its weight. I killed 2 Basil plants thanks to mixing in peat moss in a dry spot. My soil is rock-hard clay at pH near 8.

The best test for drainage is to dig a hole down to 2 feet, then dump a 3-gallon bucket to see how fast it drains. I have two own-root Abraham Darby: one is twice wider than the other since the bucket of water drained instantly (after digging down to 2 feet), the other own-root is 1/2 the size since the bucket of water drains a bit slower, like 5 min.

Thank you Floral and Straw! I thought I was doing the right thing following the heirloom roses videos to a T. I guess not! I dug out the 2’x2’ hole and rose and replaced all the soil mixture with the sandy soil that was naturally there. The water still doesn’t seem to be draining that well, so I may move the placement of the plant into a larger hole elsewhere. Hopefully I don’t kill the rose by shock of movement 🫣

I did something like what Shareema did about 5 years ago. With Kosmos, Sunny Sky and Poseidon. I dug holes 16 inches deep, 2 feet wide, and removed all the native rocky clay soil. Popped the roses in, and filled with 100% partially finished compost. They didn’t drain well. I was sadly misguided. But the roses didn’t know that, and still don’t. They’re vigorous and highly productive, even though Kosmos, a shorty, is prone to rabbit attacks.

I dug down only 16 inches because I couldn’t dig any deeper. I lost patience. It was hard work. Even with a digging bar. Hard clay, and rocks.

@strawchicago I did the hole test… it took my water more than 10 mins to drain completely. It was good for the first half but the bottom inches of dirt is definitely more clay like. Is there anything I can add into the hole to make it drain better? Could I dig the hole deeper and add a couple inches of rocks? Thanks!

Shareema 7a NY Rocks impede drainage, I won't recommend that. Even pea-gravel at bottom of planting hole blocks drainage. There's a horticultural study on various grades of sand: play sand is too fine, which isn't ideal.

Note clay is THE SMALLEST PARTICLE, so clay slows drainage.

Coarse sand, or yellow paver's sand is fastest in drainage, but Tube-Sand with tiny pebbles ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN drainage. Washed sand (horticultural sand) is also good for drainage.

I would dig the hole deeper for a tall climber like Teasing Georgia, down to at least 2.5 feet. At bottom of the hole I would use a pitch fork to break up the hard clay at bottom with yellow coarse sand, that would speed up drainage.

Sand has zero nutrients thus best AT BOTTOM for fast drainage, but clay is fertile thus best on top.

@strawchicago z5 ugh, you are so amazing, thank you so much for your help and advise! I will definitely take your word and do this. I have 5 roses coming in the next week, but I'll be away so I'm trying to prep as much as possible ahead of time so my boyfriend won't get stuck lol. Thank you again!!